Mediation Effects of Environmental Cooperation on the Relationship between Sustainable Design and Performance Improvement among Chinese Apartment Developers

Due to increasing pressure for energy saving and emission reduction, Chinese apartment developers have initiated sustainable design practices. This paper develops a conceptual model which proposes that cooperation with construction stakeholders and customers is a mediator, necessary for apartment developers to realize environmental, economic and even competitive performance improvement through sustainable design practices. The paper examines the current practice situations of sustainable design, cooperation with construction stakeholders and customers as well as related performance improvement among Chinese apartment developers based on 92 questionnaires conducted by the authors. The mediation effects are further analysed through hierarchical regression analysis. Statistical results indicate that sustainable design should be further promoted by the Chinese governments and implemented by Chinese apartment developers. Policy implications are discussed to provide detailed suggestions on improving the cooperation with Chinese apartment developers and their construction stakeholders/customers. Such cooperation can help apartment developers to improve environmental, competitive and economic performance through sustainable design practices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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